Beyond veterinary school: Helping animal science students explore other career opportunities

Abstract Text: A large percentage of students entering undergraduate animal science programs have a desire to become a veterinarian.  For example, at Berry College, a private school in Northwest Georgia with an animal science program, 81 ± 0.6 % of the incoming freshmen (n = 194) for the last two years have indicated a desire to become a veterinarian.  Animal science is an appropriate undergraduate major for students interested in veterinary science, and animal science programs should help those students to successfully obtain those goals, however many students come from a background with little experience or knowledge of opportunities for a career working with animals other than veterinary medicine.  At Berry College, 69 ± 1.5 % of the incoming freshmen for the last two years reported coming from an urban or suburban area, and only 14 ± 1.9 % reported living on a farm.  While more freshmen report being from a farm at Iowa State University (29.15% in 2014 and 42% in 2015), the trend is still similar. These urban and non-farm students have a desire to work with animals, but limited knowledge of the opportunities available as indicated by the fact that 25 ± 2.9 % of the incoming freshmen at Berry College indicated having no experience working with their primary animal of interest.  To help students further define where their passion may lie, steps have been implemented in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University to inform incoming and freshmen students about the diversity of careers in animal science.  During campus visits with high school students and families, the vast array of opportunities surrounding careers in Animal Science are discussed briefly.  More discussion follows during Freshmen Orientation, and also during ANS 110: Orientation in Animal Science.  Freshmen and transfer students enrolled in ANS 110 were asked to indicate their interest in various careers at the beginning and again at the end of the semester.  At the beginning of the semester, 62% (315 responding) indicated that veterinary school was their primary interest.  The last week of class, only 43% (296 responding) responded that this was still at the top of their interests.  Even more interesting was the increased interest in graduate school (8% in September vs 17% in November).  Identifying interests earlier in their collegiate career will allow students to take advantage of internships and other experiences more closely related to their interest. 

Keywords: prevet, teaching, undergraduate